Maybe Stymie said it best, while rubbing a lamp and making a wish. "I wish
there were only two days in the year, Christmas and Saturday!" And I agree, as
both were, and still are precious times to me while growing up, and now while
recovering after surgery. So let's join Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman at the
Way Back machine, and travel back. I see it is set on the early sixties, on a
Saturday morning...
Saturday morning TV was our friend growing up. Not only would we watch
with excitement, but then go out and replay in our own way the things we had
just watched. It would start with Crusader Rabbit, and his comrade Ragland T.
Tiger, the T. stood for Larry, he once explained, his father couldn't spell.
Many early mornings were spent with them in Galahad Glen. Then it was on to Sky
King-out of the clear blue of the western sky. And the first images of Arizona
for this Jersey boy. The next ranch was the Broken Wheel, where Joey Newton was
raised by Big Jim Newton, after being adopted. But the show was called Fury,
after Joey's black stallion, and with his pal Packy always in trouble, Fury was
the equine version of Lassie. They don't make horses like that any more. Next
was Roy Rogers on Trigger, with Dale Evans on Buttercup, and Pat Brady in his
old Jeep, Nellybelle. With all these horses I was never a horse fan, but loved
Nellybelle. In between was Andy's Gang, with Andy Devine,who you guessed it,
made it as a cowboy. We watched every week as Froggy plunked his magic twanger,
and Midnight the Cat chased Little Squeaky the mouse. All good clean fun, and
these were all our friends. We talked of them, played like them, and no one
slept in on a Saturday morning. So it is with great joy I started watching Roy
Rogers again-and I feel young again.
You always knew Roy would make things right, whether it was the gold mine
being robbed, or the widow needing food. The bad guys could easily be
identified by their looks, and the good guys by the white hats. Their horses
always seemed to be cleaner, too. The difference between good and evil to us
when we were young, although I was never told that cleanliness is akin to
Godliness. But seeing Roy in action again on Trigger, and Bullet chasing him, I
can remember the old shows, and also the times, when horse and Jeeps were
sharing the trails. When 35 cents bought the blue plate special at Dale's cafe,
and the rich guys from the east were always taught a lesson about courtesy and
values by the end of the show. City folk always took longer, but were the most
generous afterwards. And I always wondered how the city folk ever ended up
owning a ranch in the west to start with. But as a kid, these and other things
on TV shaped our values, and our dreams.
Well, we're back in the future, thanks Mr. Peabody for the trip, and
Saturday morning is different. Violence on a level, that only sells toys to
unsuspecting. No message, no Roy and Dale, and no Froggy the Gremlin. And as I
channel surf, I cannot find anything to watch. Some Three Stooges sometimes,
maybe an old movie, and Roy, but the rest is embarrassing to me, and I wonder,
how can parents let their kids watch this junk? Wasn't it Barney Fife who said
"the first rule is to obey all rules?" If my parents say it is ok, is it
really?
Times have changed, and so have values-thankfully Jesus hasn't. Sin will
always be sin to God, and big or small, sin will always be sin. He hates it,
and when it gets between us, we change. Do not be deceived, bad company
corrupts good morals, we are told. And I still have my morals challenged, but
God is still God, never leaving me. He gets me through the tough, and I rejoice
with Him after. He shows me how self control is based on the choices I make,
and still loves me when I make a bad one. He is good over evil, charity to the
poor, and the sheriff rescuing us from the bad guys. He is Sky King, in his
plane, the Songbird, rescuing Penny and Clipper from danger. He is Joey on
Fury, saving the young kid who wondered off. He is Andy's Gang, singing and
spending time with kids. And He is Roy and Dale, making it a better place to
live. You see, He works through those who love Him, and the good guys will
always win, even if it is the last minute of the show. For God isn't late, but
wants us all to come to repentance, and some of us are or were pretty bad
hombres.
I still agree with Stymie on his wishes, but I am glad to know that Jesus
is with me everyday. That everyday can be Saturday morning, it is up to you to
make the right choice. This morning it was going way back-with Jesus we can
look way ahead. A hope and a future. Think of how you looked forward to
Saturday morning as a kid, and come to Him like one, as He asks. Save Him a
seat on the sofa next to you, for there will never be a better time than now,
with Jesus.
It's Saturday morning, do you know where your kids are? Aren't you glad
Jesus does? Gotta go-the bad guys are coming back on-go gettum Roy!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
